Multiple disk shaft lock



April 25, 1944. 5m 2,347,292

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT LOCK Filed May 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR.

April 25, 1944. s T, SMITH 2,347,292

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT LOCK Filed May 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 C] v Fr? 10 April 25, 1944.

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT LOCK s. 1'. SMITH 2,347,292 I Filed May 4, 1942 s Sheets Shet 4 April 25', 1944.

s. T. SMITH 2,347,292

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT LOCK Filed May 4, 1942 '5 Sheets-Shet' 5 Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNETED STATES PATENT QFFICE MULTIPLE DESK SHAFT LOCK Skardon T. Smith, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,668

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement of my former locking device described in Patent No. 2,028,629, dated Jan. 21, 1936, and herein provides means for applying multiple locking disks to power shafting as may be mounted with housings.

The object of my invention is to provide a locking device for drive shafting, designed to prevent backward rotation thereof whenever an excessive opposing force is applied through any driven unit as may be attached thereto.

Another object is to provide a simple shaft connector capable of functioning freely in either direction when rotated by the driving shaft unit, but will automatically look within a fixed inclosing housing if an opposing force is applied through any attached driven unit.

A further object is to provide a locking unit that can be installed within any line shafting capable of adaption to an inelosing fixed hous- These several objects are attained in the pre ferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the assembled device showing the housing and means for mounting same on a fixed support.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the housing taken on the line 22 of the Fig. 1, showing the general housing formation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, except for the central shaft units, taken on the line 3-3 of the Fig. 2, showing the general arrangement of the operating parts as applied to a double disk assembly.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line -li of the Fig. 3, showing the relative position of the shaft driving lugs as are mounted within the lock disk, and application of a centralizing displacement spring applied thereto.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the driving shaft end lugs for contacting the disk recess walls.

Figs. 7 and 8 also illustrate similar lug details for the driven shaft section.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate different forms of lock disks applicable to the locking device unit, and opposing sets of displacement spring recesses applicable thereto.

Fig. 11 is a modified longitudinal sectional view, similar to the Fig. 3, but illustrating the general arrangement of the operating parts with an extended multiple disk assembly.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I2l2 of the Fig. 11, showing the relative position of the modified operating lugs and respective lock disks.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate details of the end lugs for the driving shaft section.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate corresponding details of the lug projection formed on the driven shaft section.

Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate the modified disk structure allowing a multiple assembly of the units. p

The general construction of my improved shaft lock, comprises a fixedly mounted shaft housing formed with a cylindrical chamber concentric with end shaft bearings formed 'therethrough and positioned centrally therebetween. Multiple locking disks are rotatably mounted within the housing chamber, and shaft sections rotatably mounted within each end housing bearing, each provided with engaging lug members for causing different look disk displacements.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The housing A is preferably formed with a cylindrical brake ring and having turned cylindrical end bearing caps 2 and 3 rigidly mounted thereon by suitable stud bolts l. The brake ring I is formed a true cylindrical section, preferably with a hardened and ground inner cylindrical surface a. Both end bearing caps 2 and 3 are likewise true cylindrical sections, and preferably provided with suitable roller bearings 5 positioned concentric with the housing axis. The bearing cap 3 is formed with a fiat end wall I) positioned at right angles to the shaft axis, and is provided with anchor bolt holes 6 for securely attaching the housing A to any support wall C, thus retaining the housing unit in a rigid fixed position at all times. Within the brake ring I is mounted locking disks 7 made of a diameter slightly smaller than the inclosing ring surface a, allowing a slight side-wise displacement therein transversely of the shaft axis. The disks are formed with one edge 0 cut away along an arc less than a semi-circle, forming opposing contact points 02 on opposite disk edges, designed and positioned to contact the ring surface a at a predetermined locking angle whenever the respective lock disks 1 are so displaced by any excentrally applied force. A driving shaft 8 is rotatably mounted through the end bearing 2, and a corresponding driven shaft section 9 is likewise rotatably mounted through the opposite end caring cap 3, as illustrated in the Fig. 3 of the drawings. The shaft sections 8 and 9 are provided with collars e and f respectively, for retaining said shafts in predetermined positions within the housing A, concentric with the chamber B. The driving shaft collar 6 is provided with extended tubular lugs g projected from the inner face thereof, positioned diametrically opposite each other, concentric and flush with the supporting collar rim. The tubular lugs g are designed to engage the Wall edges h of the disk recesses D, for retaining the disks 1 in a concentric free turning position within the brake ring cylindrical surface a, whenever the turning force is applied thereto through the driving shaft. section 8. Likewise the driven shaft collar 1 is provided with corresponding sectional cylindrical lug projection it formed with opposite flattened sides positioned symmetrically with the tubular lugs 9, designed to fit and engage the opposite wall edge in of the disk recesses D, for forcibly displacing said lock disks transversely of the shaft axis Within the ring chamber walls a and locking therewith whenever a backward turnin force is applied thereto through the driven shaft section 9. The restricted disk recesses D form a rigid yoke means for securely clamping the inclosed shaft lugs g and it together, thus uniting the shaft sections for continuous rotations whenever the inclosing disks 1 are free to turn within the housing. If desired, stressed displacement springs is may be inserted in either side disk recesses is or H as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, for retaining the respective disks 1 under a predetermined pressure, in either their centralized, or locking positions, when otherwise unrestrained, thus controlling the disk operation for the initial moderately applied turning forces.

It can readily be seen that any turning power as may be applied thereto through the driving shaft section 8, will centralize all locking disks 1 within the housing chamber recess, if not previously centralized by reaction of the springs l when used, and will retain said disks 1 in their centralized free rotating position and transmitting all power directly to the connected driven section 9. However, if any opposing operating force is applied to the disks 7 through the driven shaft section 9, said lock disks will be forcibly displaced sidewise transversely of the shaft axis and lock with the ring chamber walls a, preventing any further rotation of the shafting mounted therein.

The Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of the previously described device, showing multiple disks la mounted therein. The respective shaft operating lugs ya and its, as well as the corresponding disk recesses Da are modified accordingly to provide the required contacting su faces. The disks la are arranged in consecutive quadrant formation instead of being oppositely disposed as in the former case, although the exact order is not material to the operation. The modified lug details are illustrated in Figs. 13 to 18. The operation is the same as in the previously described cases.

Having fully described my multiple disk shaft lock, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A multiple disk shaft lock for preventing backward rotations of a connected driven unit, comprising a fixedly mounted housing formed with a central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft bearings through opposite housing ends positioned concentric with the housing chamber axis, a driving shaft section and a driven shaft section rotatably mounted within the opposite housing bearings with their inner ends projected within the housing chamber and provided with exterior and interior operating lugs respectively, said lugs being positioned on the shaft ends symmetrically about the common axis, multiple locking disks each formed with one recessed edge and a central rectangular-like recess, uniformly disposed and rotatably mounted within the housing chamber capable of locking with the chamber walls, said locking disks central recess being designed and positioned to fit over the injected shaft operating lugs and engage therewith along their respective parallel sides in a manner for causing a sidewise displacement of the respective lock disks transversely of the shaft axis when an excentric pressure is applied thereto through either set of shaft operating lugs, for respectively locking or releasing said lock disks with the housing chamber walls.

2. A multiple disk shaft lock for preventing backward rotation of a connected driven shaft section, comprising a fixedly mounted housing section formed with a central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft bearings through the opposite ends thereof positioned concentric with the chamber axis, a driving shaft section and a driven shaft section rotatably mounted within the housing bearings with their adjoining ends projected within the housing cylindrical chamber, said shaft sections being provided with retaining collars and projected male and female driving lugs designed with parallel opposite side walls, multiple circular locking disks formed with central rectangular-like recesses oppositely disposed and rotatably mounted within the housing chamber and capable of looking therewith, said disks central recess being designed and positioned to fit over the injected shaft driving lugs in a manner for causing side-- wise displacement thereof transversely of the shaft by any external pressure applied through the respective shaft lugs, for locking or releasing said lock disks with the housing chamber walls.

3. A multiple disk shaft lock for preventin backward rotation of a connected driven section, comprising a fixedly mounted housing formed with a cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft bearings through opposite ends thereof positioned concentric with the chamber axis, a driving shaft section and a driven shaft section rotatably mounted within the opposite housing bearings with their inner ends projected within the housing cylindrical chamber, each shaft end being provided with a retaining collar and with symmetrically positioned driving lugs projected from the collar rim at each quadrant positioned parallel to the shaft axis, likewise the driven shaft collar is formed with a centrally positioned cross operating lug projected therefrom symmetrically with the shaft axis, designed and positioned Within the driving shaft lugs forming a rectangular assembly, multiple lock disks each formed with one recessed edge and centralized square-like central recesses, said disks being uniformly disposed and rotatably mounted within the chamber recess, capable of locking therewith, and positioned with their respective central recesses over the shaft lug assembly, capable of sidewise displacement transversely of the shaft aXis in their respective directions by pressure applied by the different sets of operating lugs, for locking or releasing said disks with the chamber walls.

4. A multiple disk shaft lock for preventing backward rotation of a connected shaft section, comprising a fixedly mounted housing section formed with a central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft bearings through opposite ends thereof positioned concentric with the chamber axis, a driving shaft and a driven shaft rotatably mounted within the opposite housing bearings with their inner ends projected within the housing cylindrical chamber, said shaft sections being formed with chamber retaining collars and projected male and female circular section operating lugs formed with parallel opposite side walls, two lock disks formed with rectangular-like central recess openings, oppositely disposed and rotatably mounted within the housing chamber recess, capable of locking with the chamber walls under pressure, said disks central recess being designed and positioned to fit over and engage the shaft operating lugs in a manner for causing sidewise displacement transversely of the shaft axis by lug pressure applied through either set of lugs for respectively locking or releasing the lock disks with the chamber walls.

5. A multiple disk shaft lock for preventing backward rotation of connected driven units, comprising a fixedly mounted housing formed with a central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft bearings through opposite ends thereof positioned concentric with the chamber axis, a driving shaft section and a driven shaft section rotatably mounted Within the opposite housing bearings with their inner ends projected within the housing chamber and provided with exterior and interior operating lugs respectively, said lugs being positioned on the respective shaft ends symmetrically about a common axis, multiple lock disks each formed with one receded edge and a central rectangular-like central recess, uniformly disposed and rotatably mounted within the housing chamber capable of locking with the chamber walls under pressure, said lock disks central recess being designed and positioned to fit over and engage the injected shaft operating lugs along their respective parallel sides in a manner for causing a sidewise displacement of the respective disks transversely of the shaft axis when an excentric pressure is applied thereto through either set of shaft operating lugs, for respectively looking or releasing said lock disks with the chamber Walls, and spring means between each of said locked disks and one shaft operating lug for retaining said disks under pressure in a predetermined position within the hous ing chamber When otherwise unrestrained,

SKARDON T. SMITH. 

